SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Top-seeded and No. 9 nationally ranked Washburn worked a swift 4-0 win over the No. 4 seed Arkansas-Fort Smith to advance into the semifinal round of the MIAA/GAC Tournament on Wednesday morning. The Ichabods will face the winner of Nebraska Kearney and Harding at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Moritz Pieper and Pavlos Parson led off the match working a quick 6-2 win on court three in doubles. Tommy Cecchetti and Vasek Schneider followed just behind, pulling away in the middle for a 6-3 win at No. 2, clinching the point for Washburn (17-3).
Vasek Schneider led off singles play with a 6-1 win in his first set from No. 2 against No. 58 Juan Rosello of Arkansas-Fort Smith (6-13). He played an extra game in the second, overcoming an early deficit to win 7-5 and put another point on the board.
On court three, Pavlos Parson needed an extra game in his third set but came away with a 7-5 win to take the advantage. He repeated the same process in the second, pulling away late to win 7-5 and set up match point.
Tim Hammes went into a tiebreaker at No. 1 in his first set against No. 35 Eduardo Bribiesca, coming up just short 7-6(7). He bounced back with a 6-2 win in the second set and carried the momentum into a 6-2 third set, match-clinching victory. Tommy Cecchetti had begun his first set at No. 4, leading 3-2 when the match was decided.
Doubles competition:
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Earle, Matthew/Hammes, Tim (WU) vs Bribliesca, Eduardo/Ramchane, Anis (UAFS) 5-4 UF
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Cecchetti, Tommy/Schneider, Vasek (WU) def. Darneaux, Killian/Rosello, Juan (UAFS) 6-3
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Pieper, Moritz/Parson, Pavlos (WU) def. Hoppe, Rodrigo/Praphan, Kevin (UAFS) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2
Singles competition:
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Hammes, Tim (WU) def. Bribliesca, Eduardo (UAFS) 6(7)-7, 6-2, 6-2
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Schneider, Vasek (WU) def. Rosello, Juan (UAFS) 6-1, 7-5
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Parson, Pavlos (WU) def. Ramchane, Anis (UAFS) 7-5, 7-5
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Cecchetti, Tommy (WU) vs. Rodrigo, Hoppe (UAFS) 3-2 UF
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
